Darchula District
Darchula District
दार्चुला जिल्ला | |
|---|---|
Sunrise view from Lekam, Darchula | |
Location of Darchula District | |
| Country | Nepal |
| Province | Sudurpashchim Province |
| Established | 1962 |
| Admin HQ. | Khalanga (Mahakali Municipality) |
| Municipality | |
| Government | |
| • Type | Coordination committee |
| • Body | DCC, Darchula |
| • Head | Mr. Karbir Singh Karki |
| • Deputy-Head | Mr. Krishna Singh Dhami |
| • Parliamentary constituencies | 1 |
| • Provincial constituencies | 2 |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,782.28 km2 (1,074.24 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 7,132 m (23,399 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 518 m (1,699 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 133,274 |
| • Density | 57/km2 (150/sq mi) |
| • Households | 24,604 |
| Demographics | |
| • Female ♀ | 52% |
| • Male ♂/100 female | 91.30 |
| Human Development Index | |
| • Income per capicta | 627 USD |
| • Poverty rate | 33.06 |
| • Literacy | 65% |
| • Life Expectancy | 69.05 |
| Time zone | UTC+05:45 (NPT) |
| Postal Codes | 10100..., 10116 |
| Telephone Code | 093 |
| Main Language(s) | Dotiyali, Nepali |
| Major highways | Mahakali Highway |
| Website | ddcdarchula |
Darchula District (Nepali: दार्चुला जिल्ला pronounced [ˈdaɾt͡sula] ⓘ) is one of the nine districts of Sudurpashchim Province, and one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The area, with Khalanga (Mahakali Municipality) as its capital, covers an area of 2,782.28 km2 (1,074.24 sq mi) and has a population (2011) of 133,274. Darchula lies in the west-north corner of the country.
Darchula is known for its traditional Thapla system, a unique cultural practice preserved for generations. Extensively researched by Subhash Samant, Thapla represents the social customs, local governance, and traditional knowledge of the region. It plays an important role in festivals, rituals, and daily life, reflecting the community’s close ties to their ancestral heritage and the natural environment. Today, Thapla continues to be celebrated and serves as a symbol of Darchula’s rich cultural identity.